Multi class character can't copy scrolls

The two with stackable exploits that are used most are the Merchant's scale and the Scholar's Kit. Both are used out of combat in safe areas where you can swap them out for your Lute or your Belt of Strength or whatever, so I don't see that as an issue.

Also, it looks like someone went out of their way to script in a solution to stacking the eyeglasses and the scales where the scales break the glasses. There could easily be a solution to drop a the scales (or a redundant scales or scholar kit) if you insert it. That way another character could pick it up and at least resell it.

 

I guess I tend to agree this is an exploit (even though I have to say I've had a lot of fun abusing it). ANd I think marc1967's fix is reasonable, since as stated earlier in the thread there are plenty of other "legit" ways to boost scroll scribing success.

But I would propose that the real culprit is that scrolls themselves are the OP exploit in ToEE. The ability to scribe scrolls (at least the level 0 and level 1 spells, since they cost practically nothing) almost completely breaks the "spells per day" mechanic, since they have 0 weight, so you can put 100 scrolls (imagine the bulk) in your backpack if you want (and have instant access to any of them, which doesn't make sense). And on top of it, reading a scroll in combat doesn't trigger an AoO (which totally doesn't make sense either... although I have to say this is the best way to use touch attack spells reliably, which can be fun if you have a Necromancer or Bard or even a Thief).

I would submit that correcting any of those points would re-balance the OP-ness of scroll scribing.

Of course you can say "don't do it", but that's like saying "don't take Furnoc's ring and go hire Darley into your party first thing once you get to the temple" (which you can do by the way). Good game design demands that the devs have anticipated such shenanigans and have done something to prevent it. At least that's my humble opinion. I think it would make a better game, even though I've exploited those things for fun all the time.

 

I believe the scribing mechanic to be a sound and good use of early XP and gold, because it does cost XP and gold to scribe those 100 scrolls you're speaking of.

The inability to create an AoO when casting from any scroll is IMHO one of the biggest cheats in the game engine.

Myself, I force myself to make a five foot step before casting from a scroll, but like you said earlier that really isn't a fix.

 

I have no issue with scribing and carrying as many scrolls as you want, as long as they are used outside of combat. I think it's reasonable to have a big satchel of scrolls to pull out for pre-buffing and healing. The scribing process in TOEE is close enough to RAW that it's fine.

However, if you are in combat, I agree, it's ridiculous that finding the exact scroll you need from the pile as a free action with no Attack of Opportunity, and then cast it with no AoO either is game-breakingly over powered. It would be nice to see this fixed.

 

If the mage had a familiar in their backpack, I could imagine the familiar could look for the right scroll and give it to the mage without the mage being distracted. BUt reading it in combat was always a major hazard in our old PnP games, often with dire consequences if the DM was feeling nasty. Good times....

 

Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing an action within a threatened square.

When casting a spell from a scroll you are dropping your guard and paying attention to the scroll you are reading, you might even be wiggling your fingers in a certain way.

Bottom line is that you are paying more attention to the scroll than you are to the adversaries surrounding you in the adjacent squares.

Casting a spell from memory provokes an attack, it just makes sense that adding having to read that spell from a scroll would make it even more likely.

 

More importantly, the SRD explicitly lists "Read a scroll" as an action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

 

Yes, I cut and pasted the first two sentences of my response directly from the SRD and it's explanation of an AoO.

 

I did some tests a while back and posted these results on GoG.com:

It seems metamagic feats do not transfer to scrolls. I tried using Maximize Spell, Heighten Spell and Enlarge Spell. None of them had any effect on results produced when the scroll was read.

But for spells that produce results based upon the caster's level, the "caster" is considered to be the one who scribed the scroll. I tried this with Magic Missile, Fireball, Lightning Bolt and Shocking Grasp. So a lvl 1 Wizard reading a Fireball Scroll scribed by a lvl 10 Wizard will generate 10d6 damage.

Spell Penetration or ability bonuses of the scriber do not seem to transfer to the scroll. Rather, if there is a DC required to resist a spell read from a scroll, the DC is based upon the spell level and the scroll reader's Int or Cha bonus (if any).

Also, scrolls that are scribed by divine casters cannot be read by arcane casters and vice versa, even though they both know the spell. For example, a Bard cannot read a Cure Light Wounds scroll scribed by a Cleric, even though the Bard knows the spell. Nor can the Cleric read the CLW scroll scribed by the Bard. BUT if the Bard has a CLW scroll scribed by himself in his backpack, and picks up the cleric's CLW scroll, the two scrolls stack in the backpack (ie. they take up the same space) and the Bard can now read both. If he gives both scrolls to the cleric, the cleric can no longer read either of them. In any case, Wizards can't read the Bard's "arcane" CLW scrolls either.

I'm not sure how D&D 3.0 handles the above case. It doesn't make sense to me that if there was an arcane version of a CLW scroll, Bards would know how to read it but Wizards wouldn't. It makes more sense to me that a Bard is a dabbler in lots of different things, and as such he understands a bit of low-level divine healing magic. So imho, the Bard and the Cleric should be able to read each others healing scrolls.

 

If the caster is of high enough level to cast the spell there should be no DC to cast it.

A DC to cast it comes into play when the caster is of a lower level than required to cast the spell. The DC then would be: Scroll's required caster level + 1.